Ask Our Expert - Not Showing at 18 Weeks

May 16, 2008

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Specializing in pregnancy and birth.


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Ask Dr. Greenfield Not Showing at 18 Weeks

QUESTION


Dear Dr. Greenfield, I am 18 weeks pregnant, and I'm not showing yet. I know they say you really don't show until 20 weeks in your first pregnancy, but every woman in my family I talk to said that they started showing at 15 to 16 weeks in their first pregnancy. Is there a problem with the baby? — Scared Mom in Arlington, TX

ANSWER	June 21, 2001


Dear Scared Mom, There are a lot of factors that play into when a woman "shows" her pregnancy. First babies tend to show later than subsequent ones, since the abdominal muscles are stronger and tend to hold the uterus in more. Overweight moms can hide the pregnancy for many months. Taller mothers often show less than those who are short or short waisted. If you are getting prenatal care and your practitioner is satisfied with the progress of the pregnancy, not "showing" at 18 weeks probably has no significance. Many women find themselves worrying a lot before they can feel the baby move every day--which may not happen until after 20 weeks with a first baby. Hopefully that will give you daily reassurance that everything is going along as it should. Hang in there! — by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.

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